Earth Day 2012

I've forgotten about Earth Day this year until inevitably, notices and homework brings attention to something that should be in the back of our minds everyday.

"Mommy, I have a project due this Friday about Earth Day 2012".
"OK, so do it!" 

I had seen her toting around an old empty pint-sized milk carton from her school lunch a few days ago. She's always doing some crafty project on her own so I didn't think anything of it. Mind you, it was filled with soil that was dug out of Grandma's potted plants at home. Convenience of having a MIL who loves having plants around the house. Soil source on demand.

"I need your help"
"What do you mean?", I ask suspiciously.
"Just a little help. I'm done with the major part."
"What's left to do?"
"I have to write about it."
I look at the dirt in the milk carton. "What's there to write about? It's dirt."
"Mommy, be serious.! If I didn't really need your help, I would do it by myself!"

I'm sensing a desperate cry for Mother to redo her project because it failed. 
"OK,What is the project on?"
"I'm supposed to reuse something and turn it into something good for the earth. I'm planting seeds in this used milk carton. But the seeds didn't survive."
"That's OK, you can't expect seeds to sprout in just 4 days."
"But I think the seeds died. I put too much water in and I think they drowned."
"Oh...."

Well, thank goodness it's spring and we have a lot of weeds growing in our garden! Those helicopter things that fly down from the trees outside...free seeds!! And they're hardy as heck! Once they take root, ain't much you can do to beat them back except pull 'em out which is exactly what we'll be doing. Earth Day project / garden weeding project! Let's go!


We also decided to use empty egg shells instead of the milk carton. Much more biodegradable than a milk carton!


I had just used some eggs that morning for breakfast so I had her dig the half shells out of the garbage. I know, I know, totally nasty but necessary! 

Honey, please scrub your hands down while you're washing the egg shells...


We went out to the yard to search for seedlings.(By the way, mosquitoes are out already. I was bitten on the arm.) The hunt would've been pretty boring except that during the walk around the yard, I surprised a neighborhood cat eating a bird. MAJOR YUCK FACTOR! Much worse than retrieving egg shells from the kitchen garbage can.  Thank goodness the cat was scared off and the bird was dead. It sat a few yards away eyeing me. Of course, who was left to dispose of deceased, beheaded bird?? Obviously, yours truly. I left the stray feathers blowing in the wind. Enough is enough. They'll decompose by themselves or more likely, blow into someone else's yard.... 


With 6 seedlings in the soil, in the egg shells, in the bio-degradable cardboard egg carton, I must say, it looks pretty decent! 


I found out that egg shells are good for the soil in that they are almost 90% calcium carbonate. The calcium can be used as a nutrient by the plant. The pH of the soil is also regulated. Crushed up egg shells around just-planted seedlings can also keep away slugs and snails because they don't like crawling over the shells. Painful for little slug feet, I guess. Crushed up egg shells also help aerate the soil, keeping it healthy and helps with water retention for delicate seedlings. WHO KNEW?!


As I hunted for seedlings. I'm thinking that maybe I should have done an experiment on how long does it take for a dead bird to decompose in the yard. Time lapse photos? Nah. I'm not going to take the project to that level.

Pretty good for "Round II"  of the Earth Day project 2012!


Egg as food  ->  Egg shell as seedling pod  -> Egg shell as part of compost! 
Mother  -> Brain storming source  ->  Earth Day project saver!

 

Stop Zapping Me!!

In response to recent buzz in the news about dental x-rays linked to brain tumors, here's my latest article published in the Japanese newspaper:

 I Don't Want To Take Anymore X-rays, Doc!

 

Recently there has been a lot of talk in the news about dental x-rays and the link to brain tumors. You’re probably saying, “A-ha! I knew it! There had to be something those dentists are not telling us! I don’t understand why they keep zapping us.”

While dental x-rays are often seen as somewhat of an annoyance to patients, it is very valuable in helping dentists detect and treat oral health problems at the earliest stages. I know, I know, the films are bulky and we have this big heavy apron on you but there is a reason for the torture.

So why exactly are we taking x-rays or what are we looking for? One of my patients said, “Why do I need x-rays? Can’t you just look around or poke around with that sharp pointy thing?” Many oral diseases cannot be detected only by a visual or physical exam alone. We are looking for cavities between your teeth, gum disease or more specifically bone loss, infections under the bone, or certain tumors. We don’t have Superman’s x-ray vision so these things cannot be seen with our eyes.

How often these dental x-rays should be taken depends on your oral health condition, age, risk factors and signs or symptoms you’re experiencing.  You should only get dental x-rays when necessary and only when they are necessary.

Nowadays, there are many ways to protect you from harmful radiation. The doses of radiation are lower today than it was 2 decades ago.

That big heavy apron that we put on you?  That’s a lead shield to protect the rest of your body. That hard thing we velcro around your neck? That’s a thyroid shield to protect your thyroid. Those bulky films?  Those are digital x-ray sensors. Digital x-rays require 80-90% less radiation than regular x-rays.

When your dentist takes x-rays, they should be read, reviewed and compared to your previous x-rays or conditions in your mouth along with the intraoral exam. Your dentist should also explain to you what they are looking for and what they’ve found afterwards.

With proper dental x-rays, your dentist can treat you in the best, most comprehensive, most conservative way possible. Most cavities, gum disease, infections or certain tumors won’t be detected by a patient until much later on.

In other words, “DON’T PANIC, DON’T STOP SEEING THE DENTIST”.

Have your dentist explain everything to you. They’ll be glad to!